Bucheon City to Develop 'Four Flagship Sports Brands,' Including International 10K Road Race

Korea's Largest Single Ice Rink to Open Dec. 19

'Bucheon International 10K Road Race' to Be Held March 7, 2027

Bucheon FC 1995 Sees Average Attendance Rise 82%

Bucheon City Hall's Sports Teams Win Awards at 144 National Competitions

Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province is expanding opportunities for residents to take part in sports by developing the Bingpania ice rink, the Bucheon International 10K Road Race, professional soccer club Bucheon FC 1995, and the city hall's company sports teams as its "four flagship sports brands."

First, the city will operate Bingpania, the largest single ice rink in Korea, at the circular plaza of Bucheon Stadium from December 19, 2026, to February 9, 2027. The rink measures 50 meters by 50 meters, covering 2,500 square meters, making it larger than the 1,830-square-meter Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul and the 1,800-square-meter Lotte World Ice Rink.

The admission fee is 5,000 won, of which 2,000 won will be refunded as paper local currency that can be used at nearby traditional markets and neighborhood businesses. The city plans to develop Bingpania into a "Bucheon-style sports commons (shared resource)" that everyone can enjoy, as well as a leading winter attraction in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Overview image of Bucheon's four signature sports brands. Image courtesy of Bucheon City.

The Bucheon International 10K Road Race will be held on March 7, 2027. The race, which received international certification in March 2026, will feature 10-kilometer and 3.5-kilometer courses. A total of 10,500 people are expected to take part: 7,500 in the 10-kilometer race and 3,000 in the 3.5-kilometer race. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through the race website until January 6, 2027.

The 10-kilometer course will start at Bucheon Central Park, pass through parts of Jung-dong, Chunui-dong and Wonmi-dong, including Chunui Station, Bucheon Stadium Station and the Fire Station Intersection, and finish at Bucheon City Hall. The 3.5-kilometer course will be for families and residents running around Bucheon City Hall and Central Park. Part of the entry fee will be refunded in Bucheon Sarang Gift Certificates, while the city will also encourage more food trucks to take part, aiming to support local businesses.

The city plans to support Bucheon FC 1995, which secured its first-ever place in K League 1 this year, so it can maintain its competitiveness in the top division next year and take another step forward.

The club plans to expand events for residents and programs with local small businesses at home games, and engage with residents beyond the stadium by launching new merchandise and opening pop-up stores with local companies. In addition, next year it will offer game tickets to residents at risk of social isolation, including young carers (children and young people caring for family members) and middle-aged people living alone.

Bucheon FC 1995 has seen clear growth in both attendance and revenue. As of October 24, 2026, average attendance at home games in this season's regular league was 6,563, up 81.5% from the 3,615 spectators who attended its K League 2 games last year. A total of 10,223 fans filled the stadium for this year's home opener. In June 2026, the club also received the Korea Professional Football League's "Plus Stadium Award," given to the club with the largest increase in attendance.

Bucheon FC 1995 players and fans join together in the “Rallalla” victory celebration. Photo courtesy of Bucheon City.

The Bucheon City Hall company sports teams represent the city in six sports: athletics, kendo, swimming, wrestling, table tennis and tennis. Next year, the city plans to strengthen their competitiveness by recruiting outstanding athletes and improve their performance through training and management tailored to each athlete's competition record and stage of development.

The teams will also continue to donate their time and expertise to school and youth sports activities and community sports events. In cooperation with the city sports council, schools and welfare organizations, the city will expand opportunities for residents to meet athletes in person and try out different sports.

Yoo Seongjun, head of Bucheon City's Culture and Sports Bureau, said, "Sports in Bucheon are developing into an attraction that brings vitality to the city and connects residents. We will build on the distinctive qualities and competitiveness of each sport so residents can enjoy them and the community can grow together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.